Watch out Profoto, the Godox V1 round head flash is just around the corner

At Photokina 2018, Godox revealed plans to release a round head speedlight designed to compete with the Profoto A1. That product, the Godox V1, has finally arrived under Adorama's Flashpoint brand and is expected to launch under the Godox name through B&H Photo soon.

The Flashpoint Zoom Li-On X R2 / Godox V1 features a round zoom head with both automatic and manual zoom control, a magnetic head rim for light modifiers, backlit matrix LCD, support for 330-degree rotation and 120-degree tilt, and a guide number of 92 ft / 28 meters at ISO 100 (50mm). The model's removable Li-ion polymer battery can power up to 650 full-power flashes per charge with a full-power recycle time of less than 1.5 seconds.

Photographers can use the Godox V1 as an on-camera standalone TTL flash and as a 'wireless command center' for the company's other monolights and speedlights. As well, the new model is fully compatible with the Canon E-TTL system with support for EXIF inscription, HSS, flash value lock, and exposure compensation.

When used as a master, the Godox V1 is able to control four wireless groups, and as a slave, this flash supports both intelligent and regular optical modes.

Other features include the promise of a 'stable' color temperature held at 5600±200K across the full power range, HSS shutter speeds up to 1/8000s, front and rear curtain sync, laser AF assist lamp, SMD LED modelling lamp, and the inclusion of multi-purpose buttons.

The Godox V1 is currently listed as pre-release by Adorama. Neither price or availability date are provided, though it is expected to be cheaper than the Profoto A1.

Profoto is trying to stop Godox as other sites are mentioning. A clear sign of Profoto is under huge pressure. Its sad as they have good products however despite that they still cant justify the high pricing. While some companies like Godox have been successful to strike the balance between price/quality/value many companies like Profoto have relied on thier previous success /brand without realizing that the market/industry had transformed. So basically they are getting distrupted and the only weapon they have is create fear to stop others. Welcome to the age of the customer 2019.

I don't believe it's possible for it to work the way we all want (the way every DSLR + AF illuminator does). The old Godox transmitter "works", in that it illuminates a continuous red pattern until the camera focuses, but the performance is so lousy and it looks so cheesy that I would just never use it.

I do not know why it's not possible for on-sensor PDAF to lock onto a short burst AF illumination, but this must be so, since nobody has figured it out :(

In dslr the AF sensors are sensitive to near infrared AFAIK. This is how the flash AF assist lamps are able to improve AF dramatically in low light.In mirrorless, the AF is on the sensor which has an infrared filter, because the sensitivity range has to be reduced to visible light for true color photography. So these AF assist lamps don't work. That's my understanding.

The watch out profoto goes beyond simple reporting. The implication is that it is a threat to profoto. That may or may not be the case but there are no actual prices, no comparisons between the Godox and a Prophoto product, just a list of specs with short narrative. The report does not make clear why Profoto needs to watch out, just leaves the reader to draw their own assumptions, likely cheaper than prophoto, similar or even better performance.IMHO a simple product announcement can just be exactly that. Suggesting the Godox may be a threat to Profoto in rag Sunday newspaper style suggests product partiality and worse still partiality in the absence of a test comparison. This just simply undermines the value of the report.

Well, the Godox will almost certainly be much, much cheaper. You will also probably be able to buy it on Amazon and get it the same or next day. That said, I totally agree that headline is beyond simple reporting.

Even if/though the Profoto is better, a substantially similar product at 1/4 the price is very definitely a huge threat! This kind of price difference appears even greater than the Leica vs. everybody else gap. Profoto, if they're not already, should be very afraid of Godox sending them to bankruptcy.

Yeah I have several Godox, cant really complain at the price. My only concern is the ease with which the Godox 860 head moves. Its a little bit too flimsy and doesnt hold its poisiton rock solid as I would like. But other than that...yeah great.

I second the AD200. Great flash for the price. Maybe not as powerful as some of the other studio strobes, but it's portable and easy to set up. Plus they (Godox/Flashpoint) has triggers for virtually every major camera brand which was a big selling point for me because I needed a Fuji trigger in addition to one for NIkon.

Plus I like the interchangable head system (flash tube or standard flash head).

I don't really understand the whole "round head" fad. If I'm using a softbox or umbrella, I want a bare bulb. If I'm bouncing flash off the ceiling, the shape doesn't matter at all. If I'm using direct flash, I want to light the whole frame, not just a central spot. And, if I want the center of the frame brighter than the edges, I'll just turn off vignette correction in my RAW processor :-)

Not only are their flashes amazing, but the Godox power pack kicks butt! No need to lug around heavy Quantum or Lumedyne power bricks anymore. The PB-960 is a game changer as well for event photographers!

The cool thing with the Godox PB-960 power pack is that you can direct power from both ports for even faster power-cycling and it's also lithium powered. On top of that you can use the battery as a power bank to charge devices via USB!

You can also buy two or three PB-960 power packs versus one Lumedyne or Quantum pack!

@Jonathan F/2 -Yeah, combining the ports is really useful with their larger flashes, like my Witstro AD360, since I can get instantaneous recycle at 1/4 power instead of 1.5s recycle from my V850/V860 at full power. Great for portraiture.

Godox are ripping ProPhoto, Broncholor and Elinchrom a new one, slowly but steadily, with a great lineup, ever improving build quality and fair prices. If they finally manage to create a solid support network they will push the others right to the edge of the market, if not completely out. Very happy about this because the markup these companies have is obscene.

Can't argue that. I own a fairly expensive Nikon flash and three godox flashes. I don't even use the Nikon one anymore (just easier to turn on the godox units and shoot without the need for a third connective device between the Nikon flash and the lightstand).

Clumsy, just show me the company they ripped off with their crossbrand compatible wireless flashes and LED-lights ranging from miniature to studio sized, battery and mains-powered and all with more than reasonable prices? it's the others that can learn from Godox.

@GRUBERND: I know, right? Godox is supporting their old units with firmware upgrades and supplies parts (the important ones) for all of them. I'm looking for a used AD360 TTL flash, and I'm seeing a lot of very affordable options as a lot of users don't realize they can use them remotely with any Godox transmitter (assuming the firmware is upgraded). I actually got a TT685 MFT version and a V860 Fujifilm version for peanuts and I can use them with my Sony cameras without any issues (and if I ever feel like switching to another system, I can keep them).

I was refering to Godox in general, they come up with good ideas for an affordable price. Although copying is of course always questionable, it seems as if they have some good ideas made up by themselfes, no? The AD200 was not a copy, as far as I understand?

A long time ago I had a Fresnel round accessory for my Metz CT 60 flash. New electronics make these flashes modern with TTL, HSS etc, yet the concept of a round head like the Metz, or round bowl types like Norman 200-400B, Sunpack had been done long ago. I am very happy with Good for bringing products to the masses for a reasonable price.

@Dainel Branco No that's just cost cutting and making it cheaper - and usually you get what you pay for. They already saved some millions by not having to start from scratch. The interfaces I've seen from Godox look like rather antique Asian button mess.

@colourgeek most of my 5 Metz flashes I owned during he past 30 years, were poorly designed, screeching plastic parts. Lately they got a little better with that, now only their interfaces suck.

I totally get it, Profoto prices are not for everybody to chew, but their devices are pure pleasure to use. Simple, endurable and reliable. I wonder if Godox also copied the accessories... an d made them cheaper (in the bad meaning of the word).

I asked the Profoto officials for a speedlight with a built in radio... and they said it wasn't something they were interested in ... so I started looking to China for help.. and I have switched all my lights from Profoto to Godox... because they listened to me the end user

I'm sorry to say this but I will buy Godox version compared to Adorama version, there is something that Adorama does to Godox products that it makes it of not same quality. I've AD200 from Godox and Flashpoint, and Godox version is better compared to Flashpoint.

As far as service I've never had issue with Adorama. They seem to offer best value with their kits if you're looking to get started. Adapting Ad200 to use as speedlight changed my event shooting overnight. Adding this to the bag will simplify things a ton. Can't wait to get my hands on one.

Adorama doesn't do anything to them, they're the exact same product with a different name etched on. You can even load the same firmware. Also their support is light years ahead of anything else you're going to find buying these products. Just the fact that you get a serviceable warranty is a lot more than you'll get buying a Godox-branded product from Amazon.

I've had excellent support from Adorama in troubleshooting incompatibilities between new Flashpoint/Godox units and my older Panasonic cameras. I live in New York, and one of their experts spent half an hour with me in the store testing various combinations to come up with a solution. In the end, I had to replace my GX7 with a GX8, but I was going to do that anyway, and it was heartening to confirm in advance that it would all work properly.

@mjoshi I actually have the completely opposite view. I will only buy Flashpoint-branded Godox products because I can actually get a response on any issues I have. The packaging is also better, and often times, like in the case of this unit, it is an Adorama exclusive.

1. $50 cheaper2. Can tilt left and right3. No need to buy a transmitter, round head, and extension cord for AD2004. No need to pay more for a transmitter, round head, and extension cord($40~70, $80, $45. $165 more)5. Much compact6. AF assist light7. Zoom

AD-200 is 4x more powerful than the typical speed light. If you have to fill a small soft box and shoot at f/8, you see the weakness of speedlights real quick. Full power on a speed light is 1/4 power on the AD-200. At 1/4 power recycling is near instant where as full power is often 2 seconds+ between full pops. As they say in the car world: “there is no replacement for displacement”.

Are you gonna pay $300 for AD200, $80 for a round head, $45.5 for an extension cord to get tilting head with only up and down, and $40~80 for a transmitter which is $465.5 or more?

Also, AD200 set up is much bigger, heavier, and bulkier than V1.

A powerful light is not necessary all the time. I would say it's too powerful for indoor uses. You can even tilt left and right lol. If you have a transmitter without a hot shoe, then you have to hold it on your hand.

Base on the video, V1 has 1.5 sec for full power which can shoot around 650 times.

I would say both AD200 and V1 have different uses which can not replace each other. Take a look at AD200 setup to get V1 setup and you will see how big, heavy, and bulky it is.

@lili: The biggest plus for the AD200 when comparing to the V1 is that is has a bare bulb. With that, you can light modfiers like Softboxes much, much better and homogeneous, especially large ones. To imitate that with a V1, you would need to put that half globe on it, which would again take power from it.I doubt I can fill my 150cm octabox for f8 portraits with a V1.And also for interior architekture, where you want to balance outdoor sunlight with interiors, a V1 would often be too weak. Same goes for portraits against the sun etc.. For what it deliveres, the AD200 is still very small and lightweight. Try to carry an AD600 around, then you know big, heavy and bulky :).

@lili23 No, I would never modify the AD-200 to be an on camera flash. I'm not a red carpet photographer nor paparazzi where I need to blast someone with that much power that often. The AD-200's strength is off camera. And actually, it's rare that I have a speedlight on camera too.... mostly during wedding recptions or corporate events. Also, as Peter alluded to, the AD-200 is not big and bulky. It's only slightly larger than a speedlight stretched out. The AD-360 on the other hand is big and bulky and awkward to handle and is why I never went for it. But we as photographers have it good if the AD-200 is seen as big and bulky. :-)

Lili "Peter1976/ Again, are you gonna put a large softbox with AD200? NO. " Why not??? I already did successfully. Did YOU try IT?I did corporate headshots with ad200 and a 150cm octabox at f8, no problem. Even recycle times were ok.And a round head does not spread light everywhere like a bare bulb does. It cannot from a physical point of view. Never mind

Peter1976/ You are talking about different uses. Out of topic. V1 is more mobile and portable than AD200.

lol we are talking about different uses and yet you brought 150cm octabox? Do you really think that journalist will gonna use octabox? What about events? wedding? and more? For studio uses, I dont mind but AD200 is not meant for portable uses and you need to spend much more money to get similar features that V1 has. Also, it cant tilt right and left lol. Way bulkier and heavier than V1. Still dont understand what I'm saying?

@lili, I wonder why you are so emotional about a technical device like a flash? Regarding photo journalism (which I was never talking about...): A photo journalists needs neither a bare bulb flash like AD200 nor a round head flash like the V1. Look at press conferences. They use their "normal" system flashes, no one uses a round head flash. Why should they? Photo journalists normaly do not attach any light modifiers, no? Regarding studio use: no, an ad200 is suitable for both, indoor and outdoor (google e.g. Jason Lanier using it outdoors). And it is no rare occasion to bring a big light modifier to an on-location shooting. There, a weaker non-barebulb flash like a V1 would sometimes struggle. In many occassions, a V1 will be a better choice, in many others the AD200 will be. What is there to discuss about?And regarding the tilting... as soon as I attach a sofbox/striplight/beauty dish/umbrella/diffusor, tilting doesn't make sense.

@lili.... So maybe all comes down to the question what kind of light modifier you are going to use and how strong the flash needs to be (e.g. do you need to compete with bright sun light). As simple as that. BTW, is there a way to attach my bowens light modifiers to a V1? And after watching your linked video: There IS a difference, although it might not be huge. Thats what they say.(And if you think an AD200 is to heavy to bring to a shooting, then you should considering to go to the gym. I mean really, it is 560 gramms ;))

These are the reason why speedlight is still being used. I kept saying this tons of time and yet you are ignoring these facts. Do you really think that most people can handle AD200 combination? lol def no. I have that setup and it's way expansive than V1.

You said about photojournalist that they don't use a round head. Guess what? Im talking about speedlihgts lol. Does anyone of them use AD200 just because it is way better than V1? Not at all.

You see, comparing between V1 and AD200 is already out of topic and Im not gonna waste my time on your out of topic conversation.

@lili "AD200 is... 1. Heavier 2. Bulkier 3. Bigger"yes, I never denied. And still the AD200 is VERY light and small for what it delivers, a 200watt portable, bare-bulb battery flash. There is no smaller and lighter way to get that. So what are you argueing?And yes, I think "most people" can easily handle it, why not? Just because it is too heavy for you? Just google and watch dozens if not hundreds of youtube videos of outdoor shootings with an AD200. Why should one not be able to handle it? I don't get it... even my tripod on which I mount the AD200 is heavier than the flash itself?

And regarding journalists, I tell you why they don't use an AD200. It is an off-camera flash, not even with a hotshoe! Journalists (if we are talking about e.g. attending a press conference) use ON-camera flashes.I mean really, if you did not realize that by yourselve... let me put it in your words: lol

Bleed? Profoto doesn't need to lower it's prices just because some people can't afford them or feel the price is to high. That's like asking Ferrari the same thing. Every business has it's target market. They target to higher end pros or those who like their quality. And I think Profoto is doing quite well. I do like Goodox products. I have a few. But one of my 860s is already making a loud popping noise with every flash only after a year of use.

If Profoto is that innovative, their products wouldn't be so easy to "copy". A lot of Western brands think the whole world owes them a living just because they came out with an idea first. If your products are not that innovative, don't charge so much. Else competitors will eat your lunch.

Also - Ideas per se are not patentable. Else nobody would have been able to use the idea of the Newton's laws of physics to do anything.

Its like what I say about Oakleys sunglasses... If its so innovative, then there wouldn't be a tonne of knock offs - its just cheap plastic frames! Any body can make them!

"If Profoto is that innovative, their products wouldn't be so easy to "copy"." - simply not true ;) It's much easier to re-type Harry Potter than to write it from the scratch. Much easier to paint a copy of Mona Lisa than before it existed. Even easier to install an urinal in the muzeum. Much easier to copy chefs recipe than create your own. "There are no cover bands in the rock n roll hall of fame". The question is what do we support. Sometimes buying a replica is the only available option. But simply acknowledge you're killing innovation this way. Which might be 100% OK for you ;)

Great. I've been waiting for this since November. Selling off all my canon flashes now that there's a respectable alternative for on-camera...but quick, Adorama, change the name Flashpoint to something less embarrassing!

Profoto CEO must be ripping his hair out. That’s pretty close to the A1 and I wonder if any infringements of patents have occurred. Or Godox makes it for Profoto and after the ‘do not compete’ clause has expired they are bringing their own version to market. I’m a Godox user and fan and this looks quite intriguing. But still, makes you wonder.

Softer light than rec tangular heads. Round heads have been 'in' forever. In the 1970s I shot with a round head Multiblitz Report strobe. Another favorite advantage is that most round head units allow you to remove the reflec tor and shoot bare bulb. The Godox doesn't. :-(

A round head on a speedlite makes it easier to rotate some accessories in portrait orientation (ex : bounce card). Otherwise the A1's main advantage isn't that its head is round, it's that it projects a circular and quite uniform light pattern, reminiscent of a small fresnel (and not rectangular and uneven like most other flashes), which makes it IMO a bit more polyvalent as an off camera point light source.

@Lou It's not the shape which makes it softer, it's when the light source is relatively larger.

You may find a round head preferable when used on a subject because of the natural shape it produces or because it might better fill certain modifiers than a normal speedlight but in fairness they're doing different things, the speedlight Fresnel was designed to fully fill a camera frame at a distance and it should still be more efficient than a round head in that regard.

Dr. Jon, when you are comparing guide numbers of two. Bflashes that allow you vary the angle of illumination you have to make sure that flash A and flash B are both set for the same “focal length” setting.

Not everybody cares, but just like people want to know the f-stop, shutter speed or exposure compensation used by the camera, some would want to know if the flash fired for fill (which can be subtle), how it metered, or what the power setting was.

supersteelman I use the heck out of mine at weddings and (assuming you're u sing reasonable power levels) the batteries do not ever run out. Not even close. But if you're worried you can always buy an extra to keep on hand. Or in my case I've got several V860iis and I almost never have them all in use at once so there's still a backup if I need it. But to date I never have and I've been using them for almost two years.

@ovengloves -One li-ion battery replaces 12 NiMH AAs and their chargers and greatly simplifies battery management.If you're an occasional flash shooter, AAs might be a better, possibly cheaper, solution. But, if you do a lot of flash work, use multiple flashes, and shoot on consecutive days, li-ions are a godsend. I knew a wedding shooter who used AAs and shot Saturday and Sunday weddings back-to-back. She had two 8-cell chargers and STILL had to babysit them in the evening to run two charging cycles to get all her batteries charged by the next morning. At the end of a long wedding day, the last thing you want to do is babysit battery chargers.

unless we shoot weddings together, my needs are not like yours. personally, id rather buy a battery pack like the yongnuo SF-18C that holds aa batteries then invest in a godox battery. I love using aa batteries.

on one hand we talk about the godox batteries, on the other they still use that old wheel to tighten the flash.

godox is great, and im really happy theyre stealing sales from expensive OEM,but I have 9 different flashes from yongnuo and shanny. so im pretty set.

To each their own. The li battery really has been a game changer, never having to change batteries and plus the recharge is super fast. I haven't compared directly but I believe it recharges faster than with an AA powered exterior power pack and that's without cords etc. No more dragging 30+ rechargeables along.

I hear you about the wheel - I absolutely hate it. Thankfully they are now moving to a lever lock on this new speedlight. I might grab a couple just for this reason - and also some of the magnetic modifiers.actually look pretty decent and as much as I love my magmod stuff this is going to be WAY lighter on-camera than a maggrip + magbounce.

I understand the benefits of Li but they aren't particularly cheap and regular user of them or not there's no harm in having the flexibility of being able to use AAs if you get caught short which is the point I'm making.Even most camera grips have an AA option so if you get stuck you can always buy some AAs and stuff them in.Li does have benefits and one being it ties you into the OEM battery so you have to buy from them but it looses you some flexibility.

Competition, the development of what features constitute new minimum standards and innovative cost-reducing players in the market often {thankfully) lead to the democratization of technology. This is often to the chagrin of those who derive part of their own self-esteem from owning what were once upon a time objects of desire, now outperformed by new products.Life, like the product-cycle, is too short for that kind of delusion.

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